Photo by Dennis Krug
Joan Schoettler is the author of the new children's picture book A Doctor at Heart: The Story of Groundbreaking Scientist and Teacher Vivien Thomas. Her other books include Books Travel the World. She lives in Fresno, California.
Q: What inspired you to write this picture book biography of scientist Vivien Thomas (1910-1985)?
A: The HBO drama Something the Lord Made became my inspiration for this picture book. A friend suggested that I watch it, and I’m so pleased she recommended the documentary. It was my initial introduction to Vivien Thomas.
Motivated by the beginning of his story, I began taking notes while watching the documentary. The next day. I watched it again. That was the beginning of researching for a story that would become A Doctor at Heart: The Story of Groundbreaking Scientist and Educator Vivien Thomas, a picture book for young readers.
Q: How did you research his life, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?
A: After viewing the HBO film, I turned to the internet, where I felt the admiration each writer had for Vivien. Vivien’s autobiography Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and his Work with Dr. Alfred Blalock provided insights into his home life, his early years, and working with Dr. Blalock and future cardiologists.
Vivien’s determination to learn, create, teach, and encourage others to set their goals high, like the former elevator operator who became a physician assistant, demonstrates the amazing scientist and teacher he was.
How Vivien touched so many people’s lives astonished me. I’m so pleased to have spent time researching, writing, and now sharing his story with students of all ages.
Q: What do you think Steffi Walthall’s illustrations add to the book?
A: Steffi Walthall’s illustrations brought Vivien’s story to life in ways that surpassed my expectations. Her research into the time period of Vivien’s life, studying illustrations of the characters in the story and making their portraits so lifelike, creating pages of disputes, anger, healing, surprise, satisfaction, and joy brought this story to life.
Pages where patterns, wooden shapes, and tools showing Vivien’s imagination floated off the page, the tools in his father’s carpentry workshop, and the instruments he created for the intricate cardiac surgery for “blue baby syndrome” are just some of the illustrations moving the story into warm, heartfelt, and engaging pages.
When he comforts the baby in the hospital, I feel his love and warmth and compassion.
Q: The Booklist review of the book says, “This attractive picture-book biography encourages students to aim high, work hard, and keep moving toward their goals.” What do you think of that description?
A: I haven’t thought of A Doctor at Heart that way, but reflecting on the Booklist review, it is an accurate description. Vivien’s determination to do his best, whether in school, working as a carpenter, learning in Dr. Blalock’s laboratory, solving complicated cardiac issues, or teaching future cardiologists, was reflected throughout his life.
Vivien grew up in a family where “[o]ur parents took time to let us know, in no uncertain terms, what was expected of us, and we in turn made every effort to live up to their expectations.” (Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas. 1985.) Vivien always kept working toward his goals.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: “Joan, your books traverse the world,” an agent once told me. I had never reflected about the setting of my work in that way, but as I look back on my books, my stories are set in Korea, Armenia, the United States. and, in the case of Books Travel the World (Bushel & Peck, July 2025), countries throughout the world. My current manuscripts are set in Japan, Italy, and Guatemala.
Art and nature play an important part in my life, so the stories I write hold themes centered around creativity and the natural world.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Thank you for the opportunity to share information about A Doctor at Heart: The Story of Groundbreaking Scientist and Educator Vivien Thomas.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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